Walking
The Westhoek is a stunning area for walking, with meadows, forests, hills and natural beauty.
Here, you can enjoy fresh air and the rich local flora and fauna.
(Click on the photo to visit the website - Click on the distance for directions from L' Avventura)
Anyone interested in the history of World War I should definitely visit Polygoonbos. This 91-hectare forest is home to the Buttes New British Cemetery. Near the parking area, children will find a playground where they can play to their heart’s content. You can also enjoy wonderful walks and birdwatching here.
This forest is one of the region’s most important breeding grounds for birds of prey.
The Gasthuisbossen forests form a beautiful natural area perfect for relaxation.
With its walking trails and diverse flora and fauna, it’s an ideal spot for nature lovers.
Enjoy a peaceful walk or a picnic in this serene environment!
The Castle Park is the perfect starting point for your discovery tour of Zonnebeke. Not sure where to go first? No worries — several marked walking and cycling routes start here, all along car-free paths.
Provincial Domain De Palingbeek is a beautiful natural area perfect for relaxation! With walking trails and ponds, it’s ideal for families. Enjoy the tranquility and discover a variety of recreational activities!
Come and enjoy this peaceful paradise for birds, covering just over 40 hectares. With a wide variety of food sources, nesting, and resting spots, the birds couldn’t be happier.
Moreover, the flora and fauna list of Verdronken Weide seems truly endless.
A walk through Verdronken Weide can easily be combined with a visit to the Ypres fortifications.
An exciting discovery awaits you!
The Zillebeke Pond is a 28-hectare pond located just west of the village center of Zillebeke.
The pond was created in the 13th century to provide drinking water, support Flanders' world renowned medieval cloth industry, and supply the city moats around Ypres.
The Fortification Route reveals the most beautiful spots along the ramparts surrounding the entire city, from high on the walls to low along the moats.
The route also explores the lost fortifications in the northern and northwestern parts of the city.
Dikkebus Pond is a beautiful lake surrounded by nature.
It offers tranquility and recreational activities such as fishing and picnicking.
At an altitude of 154 meters, the Kemmelberg is the highest peak in Flanders and probably the best-known ‘mountain’ in the Westhoek and West- Flanders, famous as it's part of several of the Flanders Classics bike races.
Various walking trails cross the entire area, offering stunning panoramas of West and French Flanders.
You’ll walk along unpaved paths, through forests, meadows, orchards, and even vineyards.
On the hillside of the Rodeberg lies the ominously named Hellegat Forest (Hellhole Forest). Don’t be fooled by its name—this forest will pleasantly surprise you with its natural beauty, diversity, and stunning views. The name refers to a deep ‘ravine’ at the base of the hillside.
In the De Blankaart nature reserve, you can enjoy beautiful walks and spot birds along the way from the birdwatching huts. Be sure to visit the castle and discover everything about the flora and fauna in the watery landscape around De Blankaart.